Pump



Jan. 3, 1967 A, P. G. STEFFES PUMP W Em M Filed Aug. 15, 1964 UnitedStates Patent O 3,295,458 PUMP Adam P. GQStelfes, 707 S. Hill St., LosAngeles, Calif. 90012 Filed Aug. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 389,395 2 Claims.(Cl. 103-150) This invention relates to -an improved pump.

It is an object of this invention to provide a pump suitable for movingliquids or gases wherein the material being moved is sealed olf from theoperative parts of the pump.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a diaphragm-typepump wherein all of the moving parts are isolated from the liquid or gasbeing pumped whereby impurities cannot cause damage to the moving partsof the pump and wherein any possible contamination of liquid beingpumped is eliminated.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide novel means forequally distributing pressure on the diaphragm during the pumpingoperation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a high pressurepiston pump without the necessity of vtight tolerances, which causelubrication problems.

Other objects 'and `advantages of the invention will be readily apparentin the description.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation in section of a pump embodying this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a view taken along line 2 2 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective of the piston member.

FIGURE. 4 is a perspective ofthe spider.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view similai to FIGURE 1 illustrating the pumpin the fully extended position.

FIGURE 6 is -a view similar to FIGURE '5 illustrating a pump in thefully withdrawn position.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective of the 4ring and its seal.

This invention :relates to an improvement on the pump illustrated anddescribed in my prior Patent No. 2,952,218 and relates specifically tothe operating mechanism for said pump. The pump is designed to utilizecompressed air or a uid under pressure as the force actuating thepiston, which in turn pumps or moves other lluids or gases, either as apump or as a means corresponding to the moving cylinder in a hydraulicbrake system.

A cylindrical casing 10 is open at both ends and has a flexiblediaphragm 12 xed at both ends by means of having the periphery of eachdiaphragm clamped between outwardly projecting flange 14 on -said casing1and a matching outwardly projecting llange 16 on a cylinder head 18,which anges are secured together by bolts 20. Each cylinder head isprovided with an inlet 22 and an outlet 23. Positioned within the casing10 is a piston member 24 which is open at each end as at 26 and has aseries of threaded holes 28 which receive screws 30 which in turn passthrough plate 32, thereby clamping the center portion of each diaphragm12 to an end of piston 24.

At both the upper and lower extremities of the piston, a ring element 34is provided having a concave upper surface 36 which receives a portionof the diaphragm 12. A driving mechanism for said Irings is providedcomprising a spider 37 which surrounds piston 24 and has its upper andlower extremities inserted into a sealing member 38, which Patented Jan.3, 1967 in turn abuts one of rings 34. The ends of the spider areattached to the ring element 34 by means of screws 39 or by othersuitable means. i

The piston and spider are each provided with corresponding racks 40 and42 which 'are aligned in parallel relationship. Any number of racks maybe used and yfour are illustrated. Shafts 44 project inwardly throughthe casing 12 and each -ca-rries a sleeve 45 journalled on said shaftand upon which connected pinions 46 and 48 are formed, which mesh withracks 42 and 40 respectively. The distance between the wall of casing 10and the piston 24 should be approximately three times the thickness ofthe diaphragm material, and pinion 48 is twice the size of pinion 46 sothat upon movement of the diaphragm in either direction, the spider 37and hence ring 36 move at one half `the rate of movement of the piston24, thereby accommodating the distortion of the diaphragm upon movementof the piston and thereby maintaining a continuous pressure on everypart of the diaphragm by the lluid within the casing. A support member49 lits Within piston 24 through which shafts 44 pass.

In operation, compressed air may be inserted through, for example, thetop inlet 22 forcing the piston 24 downwardly in FIGURE l, the rack 40on said piston meshing with and rotating pinion 48 and at the same timepinion 46. Pinion 46 meshes with the rack 42 causing the spider 37 toalso move downwardly at onehalf the rate of the piston whereby tlluid orgas in the lower cylinder head [18 is evacuated through outlet 23.Ultimately, the pump reaches the position of FIGURE 6. When the air orother pressure in the upper cylinder head I18 is evacuated through itsoutlet 2-3, the piston will be forced upwardly to its starting positionby the following means, depending upon the use to which the pump is put.If used as an ordinary pump, with both lower inlet 22 and outlet 23, aspring lS0 can be affixed between the lower cylinder head 128 and thelower piston head 32. When used to move a fluid or gas under pressure ina closed circuit (with only one combined inlet and outlet), upon therelease of the :pressure in the upper cylinder, the pressure exerted bythe Huid or gas in the lower cylinder head 18 will force the pistonupwardly in FIGURE vl until a position illustrated in FIGURE 5 isassumed, with t-he uppermost plate 32 striking the -top of the uppercylinder head |18. Thus, by alternately applying and releasing pressurein the upper cylinder head, the pump is caused to operate.

While what ahereinbefore has ybeen described as the preferred embodimentof this invention, it is readily apparent that alterations andmodifications may be resorted -to without departing from the scope ofthis invention and such alterations and modifications are intended to beincluded within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a pump having a casing, a flexible diaphragm mounted within saidcasing, a piston Within said casing engaging said diaphragm, a ringsurrounding said piston and lilling the space between said piston andsaid casing and engaging said diaphragm, the combination of meansforming a rack on said piston, a spider abutting said ring andpositioned between said casing and piston, means forming a second rackon said spider, pinions meshing with said racks and mounted for rotationupon said casing, said casing having an inlet and an outlet on the0pposite side of said diaphragm from said piston, and a shaft journalledin said casing and projecting through said piston and spider supportingsaid pinions.

2. In a pump having a casing, a flexible diaphragm mounted within saidcasing, a piston within said casing engaging said diaphragm, a ringsurrounding said piston and lling the space between said piston and saidCasin-g and engaging said diaphragm, the combination of: means forming arack on said piston, a spider abutting said ring and positioned betweensaid casing and piston, means forming a second rack on said spider,pinions meshing with said racks and mounted vfor rotation upon saidcasing, said casing having an inlet and an outlet on the opposite sideof said diaphragm from said piston, and a support member provided withinsaid spider, shafts journalled in said casing and projecting throughsaid piston, spider and support member and supporting said pinions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,006,843 10/1911 Gerhard 103-158 2,692,618 10/ 1954 Ludowici 92-98 2,952,218 9/1960Steffes 103-152 2,953,166 9/ 1960 Carlson 92-98 10 MARK NEWMAN, PrimaryExaminer.

W. L. FREI-EH, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A PUMP HAVING A CASING, A FLEXIBLE DIAPHRAGM MOUNTED WITHIN SAIDCASING, A PISTON WITHIN SAID CASING ENGAGING SAID DIAPHRAGM, A RINGSURROUNDING SAID PISTON AND FILLING THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID PISTON ANDSAID CASING AND ENGAGING SAID DIAPHRAGM, THE COMBINATION OF: MEANSFORMING A RACK ON SAID PISTON, A SPIDER ABUTTING SAID RING ANDPOSITIONED BETWEEN SAID CASING AND PISTON, MEANS FORMING A SECOND RACKON SAID SPIDER, PINIONS MESHING WITH SAID RACKS AND MOUNTED FOR ROTATIONUPON SAID CASING, SAID CASING HAVING AN INLET AND AN OUTLET ON THEOPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID DIAPHRAGM FROM SAID PISTON, AND A SHAFT JOURNALLEDIN SAID CASING AND PROJECTING THROUGH SAID PISTON AND SPIDER SUPPORTINGSAID PINIONS.